Pistons' Billups admits gas light is on

Detroit Pistons' Chauncey Billups, watches play in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Dallas. The Mavericks won 116-106. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AUBURN HILLS >> Chauncey Billups was asked how much gas he’s got left in the tank and he joked he has some left, but the gas light is definitely on.

There’s a chance the 37-year-old Billups could be nearing the end of his final season in the NBA.

Billups underwent knee surgery last week and is out at least two to three weeks.

“It’s something that’s really been bothering me since November,” Billups said. “I did every single thing that I could to try to get it right, but it would get right and then have a set back. It was a tough grind. Went in and there was a tear in the meniscus so they just cleaned it up. I’m feeling better.”

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Billups has played in just 19 games, but hopes he could possibly return this season.

“I would hope so, but we’ll just kind of see,” Billups said. “I’m not going to rush back. I do just want to get it better. In a perfect world, yeah I hope so.”

The Pistons are 23-34 and their chances of making the playoffs are looking less likely by the day. It’s not what Billups envisioned when he returned the Detroit, where he won an NBA championship, was named NBA finals MVP and led the Pistons to six straight Eastern Conference finals.

“I feel like if my knee was fine all year we probably wouldn’t be in the position that we’re in,” Billups said. “We would probably be a little higher in the standings, I would think with what I can bring to the team as far as leadership is concerned on the court. But it is what is. Father time is undefeated.”

The Pistons have a team option for Billups next season, but Billups said whether or not he returns depends on his health.

“It just all kind of depends on how this feels, how things are with the knee,” Billups said “If the knee is fine then sure absolutely I would like to come back. If it’s not, I don’t want to come back and do this. It’s tough to do this, especially when we’re not a winning team at this stage. It’s tough to do that, but hopefully in a perfect world if my knee is fine.”

Billups has tried to be a leader from the sidelines, but it’s tough to lead when he’s not able to get out on the court.

“I’m just trying to tell them to stick together,” Billups said. “Just try to stick together. There’s going to be a lot of ups and downs all the time in the NBA. You gotta be able to fight through it. Even when you’re down you gotta be able to find a way to pull together. We have some talent in this locker room, but we don’t have the kind of talent where one guy can pull us out of it. We just don’t have that. If we just all pull together and buy in together then we’ll have a shot.”

Playoffs hopes fading
The Pistons enter Tuesday night four games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Detroit has just 25 games left to make up the deficit.

Making matters worse is 16 of the final 25 games are on the road and eight of the 16 road games are against Western Conference teams.

Detroit hits the road this week for two games in Texas. The Pistons play at San Antonio Wednesday and at Houston on Saturday.

“I think our next couple road games are going to be tough against San Antonio and Houston,” Kyle Singler said. “They’re two very good teams so we’ll have to play well. ... But we can do it for sure.”